1914-1999
Roy Walter Ecker, Jr., was born in Panama City, Florida, on January 2, 1914. The Ecker family's home was across St. Andrews Bay in Cromanton. As a teenager he rowed across the bay every day in a skiff to work at the paper mill, rowing back across after work. Like his brothers Bert, Charlie, and Bobby, he loved the sea, their father Roy Sr. (nicknamed "Skipper") being a boat captain, and Roy Jr. later worked with the Merchant Marines. He was a graduate of the United States Marine Officer's Academy at Fort Trumbull, New London, Connecticut.
Roy married Lucille Pridgen of Belle Isle in 1935. In 1945 they moved with their sons Terry and Ron to Palatka, Florida, where Roy worked for 36 years with Hudson Pulp and Paper (now Georgia Pacific), retiring as a shift superintendent. He loved sailing, and owned several boats on the St. Johns River. He also loved playing the guitar and singing, especially old Jimmy Rodgers songs that were popular in his youth.
Roy died of a heart attack on November 4, 1999, at age 85. He was preceded in death by his son Terry and brothers Bert and Charlie. He was survived by his wife of 65 years, Lucille; brother Robert of Panama City; son Ron of Palatka; daughters Kathy Tenney of Valrico, Florida, and Karen Robbins of Gainesville; and grandchildren John Wesley Tenney and Matthew Tenney of Valrico and Chris Robbins and Jamie Robbins of Gainesville.
Contact:
postmaster at ronaldecker dot com
